Update on new hospital??

mainer

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Mar 22, 2002
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Does anyone have an update on the new hospital being constructed in Santiago? How is the medical care at this time? What kinds of diseases, emergencies, illnessess, cannot be handled by medical providers on the North Shore and in Santiago and would require an airlift out?

Is there insurance in the DR that would cover DR medical care and care in the US (including airlift)?

Our medical in the US is about $8,000 per year. It surely will give us a lot more to live on if we can drop this for something more reasonable. It doesnt cover care in the DR anyway.

Oh yes, what about dental, and of course braces for the kids?
Orthodontic braces I mean? Are these available there, and are the services good? By there, I mean North Coast or Santiago.

Thanks everyone for all of your answers to my MANY questions. We are finally sorting things out here.
Mainer
 

Ken

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Jan 1, 2002
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Hillbilly can give you detailed info about the hospital (still in construction) and medical services in Santiago.

There are a variety of insurance plans available in the DR, whether any cover airlifting, I don't know. But do know you can buy plans that cover airlifting in case of urgent medical needs that can't be met in the country in which you are living in the US. Don't think the cost of this is excessive since very little chance someone will need to use it.

My wife and I are retired and have been living in the DR since 1986. Our dentist is in Sosua and our "family" doctor is in Cabarete, but there is also one we sometimes use in Sosua, where we live. For other than that, we go to Santiago or Santo Domingo. I was referred by family doctor to a specialist in Puerto Plata that I am very pleased with, but in the absence of a very good reason/refernce, we prefer to go further. The quality of medical care in Santiago and Santo Domingo is the best in the country, and is really quite good. I can give you specifics on who we use, when the time comes, as can other expatriates. There are a lot of us here and we aren't going back to the US for very much.

We spent about a year in Venezuela and got excellent medical care there, also.

All the good doctors aren't in the US.

Medical care in the DR is much cheaper than in the US; not because of quality difference but because of lower overhead, lower expectations on part of the doctors, and less ability on the part of the people to pay for medical service. We have also found the doctors outside the US to be more caring.
 
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mainer

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Mar 22, 2002
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Ken,
Thanks for the info. I had heard bad things about the medical system there, but then I realized they were all from people who had only visited once.

"All the good doctors aren't in the US."

And to the above quote, may I add:

"All the doctors in the US aren't good"

or maybe better said

"Not all of the doctors in the US are good". I think that one sounds better.

Mainer
 

Hillbilly

Moderator
Jan 1, 2002
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Hospital & Health Care

The HOMS is nearing completion of the construction phase, but there is a lot of work to be done. This will certainly be an imposing health care facility.

I really can't think of anything less than catastrophic that might need an airlift to Miami.

There are health plans that cover emergency med-evac operations. I am sure that you can talk to some people here that will give you the answers you need before making any final decisions.

Certainly Santiago and Santo Domingo are the major health care centers, but there are some good people spread all over the country. Sometimes I think that a caring physician is just as good as an expert that doesn't give a hoot...

As for dental care you will be in great hands here. Much, much less expensive and very good... It's funny, nowadays, you see people of all ages with braces....

Does this help?

HB
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Ken

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Jan 1, 2002
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Mainer,

A couple of additions.

1. The health insurance plans sold here are much less than those in the US because health care costs so much less. In US, health insurance costs have steadily increased to keep pace with rising medical costs (or so say the health insurers).

2. We kept our BCBC because we get reimbursed for our medical costs here. But it is very expensive and getting more so. Maybe we'll do something different in future. May be worth considering a combination of local insurance and something in case of catastrophic need in the US.

3. Visitors to a hotel don't know who to go to if they consult a doctor on their own. May end up with one they can't understand and/or one a expat resident wouldn't use. Or they may be taken by their hotel to the doctor they use. Probably fine for general things but not a specialist. Also, you can't establish a relationship with any doctor in one visit. Glad you aren't taking those evaluations too seriously. I would be less positive myself and would have heard a lot more complaints during my years here if care was as they have indicated to you.

4. During our years outside the US we have had an operation to repair a double fracture of the jaw and a partial masectomy, plus a variety of other problems. Haven't even considered returning to US for any of it. Maybe if we had more money we would, so that we could make use of both Medicare and BCBS, but we can't and don't feel abused because of it.

5. The new facility in Santiago is going to be a significant addition to the north coast health resources. May cause us to move more from SD to Santiago.
 

Bugsey34

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Feb 15, 2002
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wow, that was great info guys. I saw the hospital in the end of Jan. 2002, Mainer, and it was huge!! I'm sure it has come a long way since then, too.

Robert should post these Ken and HB's responses in the Living FAQ's under Health Care or something for people looking to move to the DR...
 

Manuela

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Jun 28, 2002
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Does anybody know anything about doctor's in Las Terrenas or on
Samana?

Any information is appreciated.

Thanks.
 

Ken

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What is your question, Manuela? There are doctors available both places. I lived in Samana from 1986-2000, so can speak about the subject there. In Samana, doctors are available in case of emergency or for common ailments. Beyond that you should think about going elsewhere. During the years that my wife and I lived there, we sometimes went to San Francisco de Macoris, but mostly to Santo Domingo for the excellent specialists there.

I would assume that the situation is about the same in Las Terrenas. In the DR, the best doctors are in Santo Domingo and Santiago, but there are others scattered around the country.

One positive thing, whether it be Samana or Santo Domingo, the doctors are more caring than in the US.
 

Manuela

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Jun 28, 2002
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Ken,

thanks for your quick reply. That's pretty much what I needed to know.
Would you be able to give me a recommendation for a family doctor in that area? Preverably one who is good with children.

Thanks again.
 

Ken

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Jan 1, 2002
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manuela, I am going to be in Samana for several days during coming week. Let me check then; possibly there have been some changes that I am not aware of. I'll then send you an email or PM with my findings.

Are you contemplating going there for a visit or to live? I can only give you info on Samana. If Terrenas is where you are headed, we'll need to find another source of information. There is too much distance between the two to make it practical to have your family doctor other than in the area where you are.
 
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Manuela

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Jun 28, 2002
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Ken, thanks for checking on that for me. If we can find a really good doctor in Samana I would definitely be willing to drive a little ways.

Yes, my family and I are planning to move to the Terrenas area by this fall. Since you have lived in Samana for so many years, would you mind if I pick your brain every once in a while?

Thanks again
 

Ken

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Jan 1, 2002
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Manuela, I recommend that you start a new thread in the Living section re Doctors in Las Terrenas. Ask your questions there about finding a family doctor there; good chance you will get helpful feedback. It is well worth a shot.

Would be happy to help you in any way that I can. I accept both emails or PMs, so rather than post on the board you can reach me directly that way. Just click on the PM or Email button under any one of my posts and go from there. I"ll also give you the name of a very good person in Samana for you to meet; a Canadian expatriate who has been in business there for about 17 years. You'll like her and she can be helpful to you when you are in Samana.

But start a thread in the Living section. People who have info that can help you aren't likely to see it in this thread because the thread has been around for awhile and because the subject is the Santiago hospital.

Finally, if you aren't familiar with this website, you should be. It may have info of help to you: http://www.samana.net/sn-english.htm